Mobile chemical agent delivery system

ABSTRACT

The mobile chemical agent delivery system provides a controlled means for employing chemical agents. At least one canister located within the vehicle supplies the chemical agent to a needle through an injector line. The needle mounts to a cap receiver, which in turn mounts to a receiver on the vehicle. During use, the vehicle drives toward a building until the needle passes through a wall, door or window, permitting users in the vehicle to controllably deploy chemical agents into the building. Users can remove and replace exhausted canisters while the vehicle remains in position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to the field of chemical delivery systems, more specifically to a vehicle-mounted chemical delivery system.

2. Description of Related Art

Gas injector systems allowing a tactical vehicle to inject chemical agents into a structure are currently in use by law enforcement and the government. They permit operators to administer a chemical agent such as CS gas or pepper spray into a structure without the use of potentially harmful projectile systems or the need to leave the safety of the vehicle.

One such system known in the art is the Gas Injector Unit (GIU), a multi-use tool designed specifically for the dispersion of chemical agents into a hostile environment, including homes, automobiles and other hardened structures. The injector unit mounts to a vehicle ram, allowing an operator to deliver a chemical agent from the safety of a vehicle.

The GIU system consists of a single pre-filled canister containing a fluid substance such as CS gas, a housing adapted to receive the canister, an actuation mechanism designed to trigger delivery of the substance within the canister and a needle designed to deliver the substance through a barrier such as a door or wall.

There are several problems with this system and its use known in the art. The canister is single use and only contains a standard amount of chemical agent that may be too much or too little for a structure. For example, a single 6 oz. CS gas canister is capable of filling 23,000 cubic feet of space. This amount is insufficient for a large structure such as a warehouse, but would create hazardous CS gas concentrations in a single room of a house. Useful chemical agents such as flame retardant sprays are only useable if they are available in canisters sized to fit the GIU; many are not.

Furthermore, it is frequently necessary to replace the canister due to exhaustion of the contents or the need to use a different chemical agent. Replacing the canister requires that the entire system be removed and disassembled. This is hazardous proposition during police activities, as it requires officers to exit the vehicle. Usually, officers remove the vehicle from the scene to a safe location, often several minutes away, and then replace the canister. Unfortunately, this is a time-consuming effort, which may give criminals time to don protective gear or escape the scene.

Additionally, the actuator used to activate the system is complex, requiring two to three cables with appropriate connections and a remote pin actuator. Failure of a single component leaves the system useless. Moreover, the rough maneuvering of a vehicle over sidewalks, stairs, debris and other obstacles may damage or disconnect the cables and actuator, rendering the system inoperable until repaired. Again, this requires removal of the vehicle from the scene to a safe location, with no guarantee that the problem will not reoccur when the vehicle traverses the terrain once again.

It is desirable to have a system that is not reliant on single use, standard issue canisters of a chemical agent, but is capable of being tailored to a wide variety of chemical agent types and quantities.

It is also desirable to have a system that allows for rapid replacement of exhausted canisters without requiring that an operator leave the scene or exit the safety of the vehicle.

It is further desirable to have a system that is not reliant on extended, complex, failure-prone systems for actuation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a mobile chemical agent delivery system that includes at least one canister containing a fluid chemical agent. A main injector line connects to the canister by a coupling. A needle system connects to a cap receiver. The needle system comprises a needle having at least one needle aperture. The cap receiver comprises a mounting component and a baseplate having a chemical aperture. The mounting component is connected to a receiver. A proximal end of the needle is inserted in the chemical aperture. A jumper line connects the needle and the main injector line. A receiver couples to a vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 illustrates a system view of an exemplary mobile chemical agent delivery system (MCADS) installed in a vehicle.

FIGS. 2a-2c illustrate exploded partial system views of an MCADS.

FIGS. 3a-3c illustrate back, side and front views, respectively, of a cap receiver.

TERMS OF ART

As used herein, the term “distal” means a location situated away from a central point.

As used herein, the term “proximal” means a location situated nearer to a central point.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a system view of an exemplary mobile chemical agent delivery system (MCADS) installed in a vehicle.

FIGS. 2a-2c illustrate exploded partial system views of MCADS 100. MCADS 100 includes a canister compartment 10, a main injector line 15, a flow regulator 20, a remote cable 30, a main control unit (MCU) 40, a needle 50, a cap receiver 60, at least one push bar 70 and a receiver 80.

Canister compartment 10 substantially encloses at least one canister 11. In the exemplary embodiment, canister compartment 10 contains three canisters 11. In other embodiments, canister compartment 10 contains between one and six canisters 11. Canisters 11 are high-pressure canisters configured to hold a measured amount of a fluid chemical agent. Users can refill canisters 11 after release of all of the chemical agent. These canisters 11 may include any chemical agent, such as, but not limited to, CS gas, pepper spray, inert gas used to flush the system, an obscuring agent, such as smoke, or a safety chemical, such as flame retardant.

A control valve system 12 removably and sealingly connects to canisters 11 and to main injector line 15. Control valve system 12 controls release of the chemical agent through MCU 40. Control valve system 12 may have a simple open/close configuration or may be configured to control and/or measure the rate of flow. Meters and gauges used to control and/or measure the rate of flow may be analog or digital. Control valve system 12 also allows removal of an exhausted canister 11 and replacement with a filled canister 11. Safety release valve 13 vents to the exterior of the vehicle in case of emergency.

Coupling 14 connects all canisters 11 to valve system 12. In one embodiment, main injector line 15 sealingly connects to control valve system 12. Main injector line 15 may include, but is not limited to, a flexible polymer conduit, a polymer-reinforced flexible polymer conduit, a carbon-reinforced flexible polymer conduit, a metal-reinforced flexible polymer conduit, a flexible metal conduit, a polymer-reinforced flexible metal conduit, a carbon-reinforced flexible metal conduit, and a metal-reinforced flexible metal conduit. Main injector line 15 may be a single length of conduit or multiple lengths joined together.

Flow regulator 20 allows for consistent and measured flow. Meters and gauges used to control and/or measure the rate of flow may be analog or digital. In the exemplary embodiment, flow regulator 20 is connected to MCU 40.

Remote cable 30 is a quick disconnect separating canister compartment 10 from MCU 40. Remote cable 30 allows for the removal of canister compartment 10 without the removal of MCU 40 and vice versa.

MCU 40 tethers to canister compartment 10 with remote cable 30. MCU 40 includes keyed security arming/disarming system 41, which prevents accidental or malicious arming/disarming, and main selector switch 42, which chooses between canisters 11. Push button actuator 43 activates gas flow from canisters 11. Internal timing mechanism 44 provides for a predetermined time/amount of gas that passes through each valve. MCU 40 also includes an activation LED 45 showing the opening/closing of MCADS 100 components such as control valve system 12.

Needle system 50 includes needle 51, at least one needle aperture 52, needle stop plate 53 and quick connect 54.

Needle 51 is an elongated, hollow structure that ends in a spike-like tip. In the exemplary embodiment, needle 51 is an approximately four-foot long hardened steel pipe with a tungsten tip. The tip may be sharp or blunt. The proximal section of needle 51 is attached to needle stop plate 53. The distal end of needle 51 includes at least one needle aperture 52 for delivery of the chemical agent. While needle 51 of the exemplary embodiment includes three needle apertures 52, other embodiments may include between one and twenty needle apertures 52, depending on the type and volume of chemical agent. Needle apertures 52 may be located along one side of needle 51 or multiple sides. The outlet ports may be arranged in a line, a ring, a spiral, a grid, a staggered pattern, any other pattern configuration as required or multiples of these configurations. In the exemplary embodiment, needle apertures 52 are perpendicularly bored holes staggered along the distal 18 inches of needle 51.

In the exemplary embodiment, needle stop plate 53 is a steel stop plate measuring approximately 4 inches tall, approximately 4 inches wide and approximately 4 inches thick, located around needle 51. In the exemplary embodiment, needle stop plate 53 is a four-sided plate; in other embodiments, needle stop plate 53 may have a configuration of between three and twelve sides. In the exemplary embodiment, needle stop plate 53 and needle 51 are attached together by means of welding. In other embodiments, the components are attached by use of adhesive or solder. In still other embodiments, the components are formed integrally through molding or casting.

Quick connect 54 of the exemplary embodiment is a standard male gas quick connect fitting. In other embodiments, it may be a standard female gas quick connect fitting or an angled fitting. The distal end of main injector line 15 connects to the proximal end of quick connect 54 when quick connect 54 is inserted into cap receiver 60. The distal end of quick connect 54 is threaded for connection to a proximal end of needle 51.

Push bar 70 is a hollow shaft adapted to house main injector line 15. In the exemplary embodiment, push bar 70 has a four-sided cross-section and connects at its proximal end to receiver 80 or to another push bar 70. Other embodiments contemplate geometrical cross-sections of push bar 70 having between three and twelve sides.

In use, receiver 80 mounts to the front of the vehicle. Receiver 80 receives and connects to at least one push bar 70.

FIGS. 3a-3c illustrate back, side and front views, respectively, of a cap receiver 60. Cap receiver 60 includes mounting component 61, optional reinforcing walls 62 a-62 d, optional plate rim 63, plate facets 64 a-64 h, baseplate 65 and chemical aperture 66. In the exemplary embodiment, mounting component 61, reinforcing walls 62 a-62 d, plate rim 63, plate facets 64 a-64 h and baseplate 65 are separate components attached together by means of welding. In other embodiments, the components attach by use of adhesive or solder. In still other embodiments, cap receiver 60 is formed integrally through molding or casting. In the exemplary embodiment, mounting component 61, reinforcing walls 62 a-62 d, plate rim 63, plate facets 64 a-64 h and baseplate 65 are made from hardened steel plates measuring approximately 1 inch thick.

Mounting component 61 is an elongated component configured to partially insert into at least one push bar 70. In the exemplary embodiment, mounting component 61 has a four-sided cross-section and connects at its proximal end to at least one push bar 70. Other embodiments contemplate geometrical cross-sections of mounting component 61 having between three and twelve sides. Mounting component 61 is partially bored out to house quick connect 54.

Optional reinforcing walls 62 a-62 d interconnect mounting component 61 with plate rim 63, plate facets 64 a-64 h and baseplate 65. Reinforcing walls 62 a-62 d are located equidistantly about the distal end of mounting component 61 and strengthen cap receiver 60 to prevent it from bending or crumpling when subjected to force. While the exemplary embodiment uses four reinforcing walls 62 a-62 d, other embodiments may use between two and 24, depending on applications and the thickness of reinforcing walls and other elements of cap receiver 60.

Plate rim 63, plate facets 64 a-64 h and baseplate 65 form a half shell with a substantially rhombicuboctahedron configuration attached to mounting component 61 at baseplate 65. The optional connection to reinforcing walls 62 a-62 d occurs at plate rim 63 and at least one of plate facets 64 a-64 h.

Optional plate rim 63 is a multisided rim attached to plate facets 64 a-64 h along its distal edge. In the exemplary embodiment, the number of sides of plate rim 63 is equal to the number of plate facets 64 a-64 h and all of plate facets 64 a-64 h share at least one edge with plate rim 63. Other contemplated embodiments include plate facets which do not share edges with plate rim 63, and a plate rim with between three and 24 sides.

Plate facets 64 a-64 h are angled planar components which connect along their edges to plate rim 63, other plate facets 64 a-64 h and/or baseplate 65. The exemplary embodiment includes eight plate facets 64 a-64 h with four-sided and three-sided configurations, each forming a 45-degree angle with plate rim 63 and baseplate 65. Other contemplated embodiments include between three and 24 plate facets, with different geometrical configurations having between three and twelve sides, forming angles with plate rim 63 and/or baseplate 65 between 0 and 180 degrees.

Baseplate 65 connects to plate facets along all edges and includes chemical aperture 66. While baseplate 65 of the exemplary embodiment has a four-sided configuration, other contemplated embodiments include different geometrical configurations having between three and twelve sides.

Chemical aperture 66 permits insertion of needle 51 through baseplate 65, enabling passage of the chemical agent from canisters 11 to needle assembly 50. Jumper line 67 is a high-pressure gas quick connect line joining quick connect 54 in cap receiver 60 to main injector line 15 in push bar 70.

In use, an operator drives a vehicle up to a structure and advances until needle 51 has penetrated a wall, door or window of the structure. Once all needle apertures 52 are inside the structure, the operator employs MCU 40 to release the chemical agent. Once a canister 11 is empty, an operator may remove it from canister compartment 10, replace it with a new, filled canister 11 and repeat the deployment process without ever leaving the vehicle or disassembling MCADS 100. Different canisters 11 may all contain the same chemical agent or each may contain a different agent to be deployed as needed.

It will be understood that many additional changes in the details, materials, procedures and arrangement of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale; instead, emphasis has been placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, the terms “substantially” or “approximately” as used herein may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile chemical agent delivery system, comprising: at least one canister containing a fluid chemical agent; a main injector line connected to said at least one canister by a coupling; a needle system connected to a cap receiver, wherein said needle system comprises a needle having at least one needle aperture; said cap receiver comprising a mounting component and a baseplate having a chemical aperture, wherein said mounting component is removably connected to a receiver, wherein a proximal end of said needle is inserted in said chemical aperture; a jumper line connecting said needle and said main injector line; and a receiver coupled to a vehicle.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control valve system removably and sealingly connecting said at least one canister to said main injector line.
 3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a canister compartment that substantially encloses said at least one canister.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein said canister compartment further comprises a safety release valve venting to an exterior of said vehicle.
 5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a flow regulator connected to said main injector line.
 6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a main control unit connected to said main injector line.
 7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a remote cable removably connecting said main control unit to a canister compartment.
 8. The system of claim 6, wherein said main control unit comprises a security arming/disarming system.
 9. The system of claim 6, wherein said main control unit comprises a main selector switch configured to select between a plurality of canisters.
 10. The system of claim 6, wherein said main control unit comprises a push button actuator configured to activate flow from said at least one canister.
 11. The system of claim 6, wherein said main control unit comprises an internal timing mechanism configured to time flow from said at least one canister.
 12. The system of claim 6, wherein said main control unit comprises an activation LED.
 13. The system of claim 1, said needle system further comprising a needle stop plate attached to a proximal section of said needle.
 14. The system of claim 1, said needle system further comprising a quick connect fitting threadedly attached to a proximal end of said needle.
 15. The system of claim 1, said cap receiver further comprising a plurality of reinforcing walls located between said receiving component and said baseplate.
 16. The system of claim 1, said cap receiver further comprising a plurality of plate facets connected to said baseplate.
 17. The system of claim 16, said cap receiver further comprising a plate rim connected to said plurality of plate facets.
 18. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one push bar interconnecting said cap receiver and said receiver.
 19. The system of claim 1, wherein said needle is a hardened steel pipe approximately four feet in length, wherein said needle has a tungsten tip.
 20. The system of claim 1, wherein said cap receiver comprises a substantially rhombicuboctahedron configuration, wherein said cap receiver comprises welded hardened steel plates approximately 1 inch thick. 